Preparing for the Pessimistic Outcome: Russians Remain Skeptical Regarding Advancements at Putin-Trump Meeting
The upcoming summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska is shrouded in uncertainty, as both leaders aim to discuss a possible resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The meeting, described as high-stakes and historic, marks the first summit on U.S. soil during the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While the specifics of any potential agreements or the odds for a resolution remain unclear, Leonid, a 70-year-old retiree, is one of the few to express optimism, suggesting that Putin and Trump may agree on a ceasefire. However, Irina, a 57-year-old lawyer, and Sergei, a 28-year-old car parts merchant, are less hopeful, stating that the fighting will likely continue until both sides run out of resources, and the conflict has become bogged down, respectively.
Key context includes:
- This is Putin's seventh summit with a U.S. president but the first amidst active warfare in Europe, indicating the gravity of the situation.
- Trump and Putin have maintained communication throughout 2025, with at least six phone calls since Trump's return to office in January.
- The summit generates significant international attention and scrutiny, given the ongoing conflict and the controversial optics of hosting Putin during war.
- Russian diplomats and journalists are present in Anchorage, signaling formal preparatory steps for potentially substantive negotiations.
No definitive analysis or authoritative forecast on the likelihood of a breakthrough or peace deal has yet emerged from these initial reports. Given the complexity of the conflict, the entrenched positions of Russia and Ukraine, and broader geopolitical stakes, any outcome from this summit is still speculative at this stage.
Kyiv wants an immediate ceasefire and does not recognize Russian control over its land, but is open to diplomatic efforts for the return of captured land. Putin continues to demand that Ukraine cede more territory if it wants Russia's army to stop advancing on the ground. Natalya, a 79-year-old retired medical worker, believes Russia needs to take control of the entirety of Ukraine, including the western part. Tatiana prefers a frozen conflict over any potential land gains in a peace deal.
The ongoing talks have yielded no results, according to Tatiana, who works on Russia's railways. Arseniy, a 21-year-old student, does not expect to get any clarity about the conflict next week. No one AFP spoke to agreed to give their surname, due to strict censorship laws in Moscow that prohibit criticism of Russia's offensive on Ukraine or comments that could be seen as going against the Kremlin.
Multiple rounds of peace talks, telephone calls, and diplomatic visits have failed to yield a breakthrough in the Ukraine conflict. In talks in June, Russia demanded that Ukraine withdraw its forces from four regions it claims to have annexed, cease Western military support, and be excluded from joining NATO. Tens of thousands have been killed since Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, with millions forced to flee their homes and much of east and southern Ukraine destroyed.
The summit is a notable diplomatic event with the expressed goal of exploring a resolution to the Ukraine war. However, no concrete odds or expectations for immediate peace have been publicly articulated or confirmed in the latest coverage. Further updates from ongoing talks may shed more light on prospects moving forward.
- Despite the upcoming summit between Putin and Trump, general news outlets report no definitive analysis or authoritative forecast on a potential breakthrough or peace deal in the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine.
- In the east of the world, politics surrounding the Ukraine conflict remain fraught, with the latest news suggesting that both Russia and Ukraine hold entrenched positions, making any resolution speculative.
- Amidst this historical summit, art and culture in the east have been silent, reflecting the general unease and uncertainty about the potential resolution of the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine.
